By David MaretHouse - Master fitness trainer, owner of MaretHouse Fitness, and co-owner of JD Max Fitness

With the hectic holiday season upon us once again, it is sometimes difficult to focus on consuming good nutrition and exercising while trying to incorporate all the extra demands that the holiday season brings.  According to a report in The New England Journal of Medicine most people do not ever lose the weight they put on during the holidays.  Let’s explore some tactics to help stay health cautious and on track during the winter holidays.

Do not skip meals and eat before the party – It is all too easy to skip breakfast and even lunch in anticipation of a large holiday meal.  Gorging yourself on a holiday meal when famished is an easy way to stack up a huge amount of calories while slowing your metabolism in the process.  Make sure you do not skip meals and try to have a healthy 100- to 200-calorie snack before hand to lessen your appetite and potential to gorge.

Have one truly sinful treat – If you stick to the principle of moderation, you can indulge and maintain your weight.  Just do not overdo it.  Have a small portion of your favorite holiday indulgence and then stick to the vegetable trey. 

Keep track of what you eat– Keeping a holiday food journal will help you stay accountable to yourself and illustrate to you just how much you are consuming.  I know, it sounds like a pain, but it really does help and you will thank yourself after the holidays are over. 

Keep cookies and pies off your counter – Everyone loves the sight of homemade cookies and desserts on the counter during the holidays, but it is all too tempting to reach out for a bite when such things are so easily accessible.  Bring them out only for dessert. 

Avoid overdrinking – Not to mention the calories in it, alcohol lowers your inhibitions and you will be less likely to keep up with your mental food diary and overindulge.

 Do not beat yourself up – There is no way you are going to be perfect over the holidays.  Your goal should be weight maintenance, not improvement.  Embrace this time of year and do not try to be perfect. 

 Stay active – During the holiday season time efficiency should be the focus of your exercise routine.  Don’t get frustrated and give up on exercise!  Try circuit training 2 – 3 days a week on non-consecutive days.  Remember, you are looking for maintenance, not improvement.  Use your larger muscle groups (chest, back, & legs) to burn the most calories and get the heart pumping.  For example, do 20 push-ups, 20 walking lunges, 20 body weight squats, and one minute of jumping rope in a circuit.  Do this circuit, or something like it, for about 30 minutes and you will be good to go.   You can do this at home so there should be no excesses. 

You should find these tactics useful to help you get to the other side of the holidays with more cheer and not more body fat.